Alibaba Group Holding and Lionsgate Entertainment, the producer behind the movie blockbuster series, "Hunger Games", are set to jointly launch a subscription TV and movie streaming service for China in August, in what could be the latest move of the Chinese Internet and e-commerce giant, to venture into the entertainment industry.

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In a statement released Tuesday, the service, dubbed as Lionsgate Entertainment World, will be exclusive to Alibaba's Internet set boxes and will offer the hit movie series "Twilight","Hunger Games:Catching Fire", the tv series, "Madmen," and "Divergent."

In a news conference Monday night at Los Angeles, Lionsgate enumerated the TV programs and movies that will be offered by the partnership, which include the Chinese premieres of "The Royals" that is expected to debut on the E!Channel next year as well as "Nashville", which is on its third season on ABC and "Rosemary's Baby" which is on ABC.

Also, the service will include "Mad Men" on AMC and Showtime's "Weeds" and will expand later on to show additional titles such as the "Hunger Games:Catching Fire" and its next installment. "The Hunger Games:Mockingjay Part 1."

Alibaba is expected to announce further details of the partnership in a news conference at their Hangzou headquarters Wednesday.

Reports said Alibaba and its affiliates have started venturing into other e-services since March, buying stakes in several companies totalling so far, to more than US$3 billion.

The Chinese giant has been looking to move beyond traditional e-commerce, offering more digital products like movies, games, and television.

Patrick Liu, Alibaba's President of Digital Entertainment, said that the partnership is just one of the ways the company is taking to bolster its commitment to provide digital media entertainment available to its customers "anywhere and anytime."

Business reports said Alibaba is preparing for its U.S. listing this year, possibly the biggest tech offering yet, amid its steady flow of investments with the firm having invested more than US7.5 billion since the start of the year.

Alibaba has bought controlling stakes in several Chinese film and television content producers which include China Vision Media Group for US$804 million; Youku Tudou Inc, 18.5 percent stake; and Wasu Media Holding Co, US$1.05 billion.

TagsLionsGate, TV Streaming China